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There may have come a time when you have felt that your business has become stagnant and everything that you have done is showing little or no results. When this point has been reached, some have made the difficult decision to just shut the business down or may have even felt that there is not any hope in making the business function again as it once did. There are many factors that might cause this halt in your business to occur but there are also many solutions to change things around so that you can experience growth within your business again. The following items are areas a business owner should really pay attention to when starting a business or if they are at a point of turning a faltering business around.

Personal Growth

Your business is a reflection of you and if you are lacking in the personal growth area, your business is likely lacking as well. Growth requires a continuous effort in order to maintain or maybe even keep up with the behaviors of the world. If you are unable to identify items that are causing problems and are unfamiliar with how to properly handle those items, it could result in a costly situation. Think about the corporate world for a moment. There are certain training courses that the corporations pay for to assist their employees and to keep them certified or up to date on the proper ways of dealing with certain situations they may face. Examples include courses such as customer service solutions or maybe even updating their knowledge of new and improved technology. The point I’m trying to make is this…Owning a business works the same way! You’ve got to continue to stay updated with the latest technology and invest in your own personal growth as well. Not only will your business benefit, but your personal life will benefit as well.

Service Valuation

Some business owners feel that in order to get business, they have to price their products or services at a very low price point which can negatively impact the business image. Going cheap devalues what you have to offer and if the concern is to just get in multiple customers for a cheap price, you would be expending extra efforts that are unnecessary. Performing acts out of desperation when it comes to conducting business can send a negative message to consumers that is LOUD and CLEAR. If you’re serious about your business, your image should matter enough to not risk devaluing what you have to offer just to get a dollar in. I’ve learned the ones who are looking to get something of value at a very cheap price are the same ones who become the most difficult customers to deal with. They want value, but they don’t want to pay for it. Save yourself now and obtain a clientele that reflects what you and your business are about…VALUE!

Delegation

When starting a business on your own, one can tend to be very over protective of the business and not trust many duties to be handed over to others. I know it was hard for me to let go of some to the duties required because I felt as if no one had the same passion I did about the business and I felt they would not put much effort into their performance and produce the output that I knew I was capable of producing. What worked best for me in the beginning was hiring independent contractors because this allowed me to have someone on board who was passionate about the work they performed which made me feel a bit more comfortable. Selecting to hire this way prevented me from having to do a lot of training in an area the contractor was already an expert in. My time was now freed up so that I could be productive in other areas of the business. Depending on how your business is set up and which services or products your business provides, this will assist you in determining which route to take when it comes to choosing an independent contractor versus hiring an employee for your business.

Marketing

Limited marketing efforts will do nothing but bring you limited business. It’s important to look into professional marketing services to assist with the task of getting the word out about you and/or your business. Because of the ever changing marketing trends, it’s important to stay current with the techniques utilized in today’s market place. Coming up with your marketing strategy can be very time consuming so it’s worth it to hire someone who provides these services so that you can focus on the core competencies of the business. If you don’t have an effective marketing plan, it can have a negative impact on the growth of your business.

Networking

There have been mixed opinions about business networking opportunities. Some articles or reports might state that it’s important to get out and attend networking meetings but you may find that some people feel networking events are not effective for them now that social media is now available. This might be the case for those who are actually networking with the wrong groups. If you cannot locate an ideal business networking group that is located close to where you live, look at this as an advantage! You can be the one who creates a business networking group that will not only help others but will also give you the opportunity to market your services too! Look into creating a networking group that is built around who your niche market is. For instance, when I started to provide my marketing and business development services to start up companies, I created a networking event called, “The T.O.W.E.R. Networking Event” which was an acronym for Touching Others With Empowering Resources. My attendees consisted of many start up business owners and people who were currently working a full-time job looking to transition into becoming a small business owner. The attendees came to my event and had the opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals and obtain expert knowledge from not only me but from my guest speakers. I created a comfortable environment and focused on creating an “experience” to give these attendees something to go back and talk about. I always focused on “over” delivering and providing value. Always remember…when you over deliver and provide value, a customer will become your mouthpiece and help to spread the word about you and your services. After leaving my business networking event, I would always end up with new clients and referrals so my way of networking definitely paid off for me!

Professional Image

When was the last time you took a look and evaluated your company’s overall image? When a person first sees your logo, brochure, website, or even sees you… what might come to their minds? If you want to come across with a professional image, you really have to make sure you are presenting a professional image to your audience. Many people try to short cut or cut expenses by going the cheap route and many times it becomes clear to your audience that you’ve done just that! If you care enough about your business and want to present value to your clients, you should value your business enough to want to create the image you feel you deserve to have. There is a statement that says, “Dress to impress”. Well, if many applied this to their business, it couldn’t do anything but help. When you are creating your business, take the time to dress your business up where it will catch the attention of your audience. Get a professional logo, professional website and promotional items that share a message of quality and professionalism. There are many affordable freelancers available on websites such as www.elance.com and www.fiverr.com who can assist with creating your professional business image. In regards to personal image, pay attention to how you dress, hygiene, grooming, etc. because remember…You ARE a reflection of your business!

Each one of us has a hidden treasure of talent. Have you ever been that someone who taught a new skill that might have helped to build someone else’s confidence? I mean, think about it? What an awesome feeling it is when you have stepped out of your comfort zone and have someone to believe in you and help you along the way? If we could get someone to take the first step out of their comfort zone, let them know and show them that we’re there to support them along the way, imagine how comforting that would be for that individual?

Sadly, there are many individuals who have never had someone there to cheer them on or who have never been shown that someone has believed in them. It’s normal to assume that the initial support system one should have should come from immediate family and close friends but I’ve learned that it has not been the case for many. Sometimes, when an individual steps out to accomplish their goals in life, they receive discouragement from those who are closet to them.

When you believe in your own dreams and capabilities, there’s nothing anyone can say or do to stop you from bringing forth what is yours, except you. -Shyra Smith

Many times, the ones who are doing the discouraging are the same ones who never had anyone there to encourage them or they just might be facing their own insecurity issues. Unfortunately, some are this way because it is the only way that they have ever known. Learned behaviors can really hinder individuals from their growth potential but the good thing is that we all have a choice to renew our minds and live a more fulfilling lifestyle. There are so many resources available these days to help individuals to obtain the lifestyle they wish to have. The key is to be willing to do what it takes and to have the discipline to continue doing what is required.

There are hidden treasures in each of us and once you have unleashed your hidden treasures, help others to discover how to unleash theirs! When you concentrate on bringing out the best in others, you tend to also bring out the best in yourself. I’ve found that the best reward is when you stand back and watch that someone you have helped, soar!

This recession is a test that so many are failing and you gotta pull it back together again to get things back on track. There was a time when you often heard the statement, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is”. More times than not, this case was true and it’s still the case today.

Wow!!! Check out the Better Business Bureau on this one. As I’ve always mentioned, it’s important to do your research on “so called” internet home businesses. This recession is really causing people to become vulnerable to a point where they are believing almost ANYTHING they hear. I understand that times may be hard, but don’t jeopardize your financial situation even more. It’s so important to pay attention to the obvious clues and if there are questions you have about it, log onto Google or any other search engine to begin your search on the company. I usually type in the company name and the word “complaint” or scam afterwards. I also check out the Better Business Bureau by logging onto www.bbb.org. There are resources available to us for a reason. Hold on to your money if you are in a financial hardship and regain your faith. This recession is a test that so many are failing and you gotta pull it back together again to get things back on track. There was a time when you often heard the statement, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is”. More times than not, this case was true and it’s still the case today. I don’t mean to get hopes up, but we gotta stop letting these people get over. The value of integrity has disappeared tremendously and I feel that if you just sit back and watch, this movement will be over soon and people will come on back to reality. Don’t get me wrong, there are some honest folks out there creating legit opportunities for people who genuinely want to help others, but it’s important that you protect yourself and your family by checking them out.